WAUSAU - A newly elected Marathon County Board member has her eye on the state Assembly.

Alyson Leahy on Friday announced her bid for the 85th Assembly District, according to a news release published on The Wheeler Report. The seat is currently held by Republican Rep. Pat Snyder, R-Schofield, who was elected in 2016.

Leahy is running as a Democrat, according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

Leahy, 31, unseated former County Board member Todd Van Ryn in the April 3 election and now represents the 11th District, which includes parts of Wausau. She is the first to challenge Snyder, according to the elections commission. Both Leahy and Snyder have registered their campaigns, but have not yet declared their candidacies.

In the release, Leahy said the district needs to do more to attract young workers and families, including creating jobs with "living wages and benefits" so people can afford to stay in the community.

"As a young working person, I know that the key to a thriving economy is a vibrant workforce," she said. "Younger residents of the 85th Assembly District are leaving the area for opportunities elsewhere, which slows our local economy and reduces resources."

Leahy moved to Wausau with her husband in 2010 and works as a copywriter for Footlocker/Eastbay. She is also the co-founder of the Wausau Makers Market Co. and an alumna of Emerge Wisconsin, an organization that trains Democratic women to run for office.

"I don't want to be one voice in Madison, but the voice and the values of the whole district," Leahy said.

A primary, if necessary, will take place Aug. 14. The general election is scheduled for Nov. 6.